‘WAS WEARING A HELMET’
Mom of teen seriously hurt in ATV accident speaks out about safety
The mother of a 14-year-old girl who was seriously injured in a recent ATV crash near Chilliwack Lake is speaking out about what happened to her daughter in hopes it may prevent a similar incident from happening to other kids.
Alicia Chonn said her daughter, Nevaya Ohman, was camping with other family members on the B.C. Day long weekend when she asked for and was granted permission to use an all-terrain vehicle.
She said Nevaya was wearing a helmet at the time and was alone and unaccompanied by any adults, but details of what happened next are unclear.
“She went and then I guess from there we don’t really know what happened, whether she flipped it, whether it turned, whether it whipped her, whether it landed on her,” Chonn said in a phone interview from B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, where her daughter remains in stable condition.
“Again, she was wearing a helmet, we can’t stress that enough. But it’s super important to not do these things alone, and also you always need an adult present. It’s tough because she’s grown up around all these toys. She’s fully capable, but again, there needs to be adult supervision. Accidents happen.”
Chonn said she is grateful that people near the scene of the crash made her daughter stable before she could be moved by helicopter to the hospital.
Her daughter had suffered cuts to her kidneys and to her liver, lost a lot of blood internally and has fluid on her lungs. The girl has had blood transfusions and has undergone surgery to deal with her injuries.
Her mother said she is hopeful her daughter will recover, but it’s not known how long she will be in the hospital and it’s expected to be a “long road” before she gets better.
“She’s on a ventilator. First things first, the steps are to have that removed.”
Chonn said the image of ATVs is that they are a lot of fun to use, but the reality is that crashes are very common.
She is aware that in May, two children, members of an Abbotsford family, were killed when their five-seater ATV plunged down a 35-metre embankment into the icy, murky waters of Foley Lake near Chilliwack.
“It was brought to our attention previously that just before this, two lives were lost, which is again why we really are wanting to help prevent in any way it from happening again.”
According to statistics released by the B.C. Coroners Service, there were a total of 127 deaths from ATV mishaps in B.C. from 2009 to 2018. Most deaths were in the Interior and northern B.C., the vast majority involved males, and nearly 40 per cent occurred during the summer months.
Medical authorities in Canada have warned of the dangers of children using ATVs, with some recommending their use be banned for children under the age of 16.
Asked about the medical findings and recommendations, Chonn noted that many kids are growing up with dirt bikes and ATVs and are comfortable with them.
“And I just feel strongly that, yes, with the proper safety, with the proper supervision, everything is possible. But also accidents are also possible. And it’s just important to acknowledge and realize this as well.”
Chonn also wanted to acknowledge the “amazing” job being done for her daughter by medical staff at the hospital.
“I don’t know everybody, but I know they’re going above and beyond to save my child’s life.”